Bihar Education Department Transfers 11,801 Female Teachers: Concerns Raised by Teacher Union

KKN Gurugram Desk | In a significant development, the Bihar Education Department has announced the inter-district transfer of 11,801 female teachers selected under the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Teacher Recruitment Exam (TRE), under both Phase I and Phase II. The decision, which has stirred a debate among various stakeholders, particularly the teacher unions, was taken based on distance criteria.

However, this time, in contrast to previous practices, the Education Department has not made the list of transferred teachers public. Instead, the individual transfer information has been shared with teachers through their e-Teacher Portal accounts and registered mobile numbers. This approach has raised concerns regarding transparency and accessibility, especially from the Bihar State School Teachers Association (BSSTA), who have questioned the fairness of the decision.

The Bihar Education Department’s latest decision to transfer a large number of teachers comes as part of an ongoing effort to restructure and optimize the deployment of teachers across the state. The transfer of 11,801 female teachers, with 5,630 teachers from TRE-1 and 6,167 from TRE-2, is a major step in the government’s educational restructuring process.

Interestingly, the department has not made the transfer list public this time, which marks a departure from earlier practices where a public list of transferred teachers was often shared. Instead, teachers were informed individually through SMS notifications and their e-Teacher Portal accounts.

The entire process was completed by midnight on Monday, and teachers can now check their new district allocations by logging into their respective e-Teacher Portal accounts or by receiving SMS updates.

Key Details of the Transfer Process

1. Transfer of 11,801 Female Teachers

As per the data released by the department, the transfer involved a total of 11,801 female teachers across the state. This figure is split between TRE-1 (Phase 1) and TRE-2 (Phase 2), with 5,630 teachers from TRE-1 and 6,167 teachers from TRE-2 being transferred to different districts.

The transfers were made primarily on the basis of distance and availability of vacancies in various districts. The objective of this transfer is to ensure that teachers are posted in districts where they are most needed and where the teaching workforce may be lacking.

2. Lack of Public Transfer List

The Bihar Education Department has taken a more private approach to this transfer by not releasing the list of transferred teachers publicly. This is a departure from previous practices, where teachers and the public could easily access a list of transferred individuals. Instead, teachers were provided with their new district allocations via the e-Teacher Portal and through direct SMS notifications to their registered mobile numbers.

While the department has stated that this new method was implemented to maintain privacy and ensure the confidentiality of personal information, it has led to several concerns regarding transparency. Teachers and their associations have expressed the need for a clearer system that allows for easy verification and public access to such significant changes in the teaching structure.

Concerns Raised by Bihar Teachers’ Union

3. BSSTA Criticizes the Transfer Process

The decision to transfer 11,801 female teachers has sparked controversy, especially among teacher unions. Deepankar Gaurav, the President of Bihar State School Teachers Association (BSSTA), has voiced strong concerns about the lack of transparency in the transfer process. He welcomed the relocation of teachers to ensure better deployment, but he also highlighted that the same approach should be taken for male teachers.

He pointed out that there is a gender disparity in the way male and female teachers are treated in the department. He emphasized that male teachers should not be left out of the transfer process and that the same attention should be paid to their postings as has been given to their female counterparts.

4. Complaints About Inconsistent Transfers

In addition to these concerns, BSSTA has received numerous complaints from teachers who were transferred without sufficient information or consultation. Some teachers have reported inadequate communication about their new posting details. According to union members, many teachers have expressed frustration about being moved to distant areas without being given proper justification for the decision.

Furthermore, some teachers have claimed that their new assignments do not align with their areas of expertise or preferences, leading to dissatisfaction among those who feel their careers have been negatively affected by these transfers.

5. Lack of Communication and Clarity

Another critical issue raised by BSSTA pertains to the lack of clear communication. Teachers who were transferred have been informed of their new postings through the e-Teacher Portal and SMS alerts, but many claim that these notifications lacked sufficient detail about the criteria used to determine their transfers. This lack of transparency has made it difficult for teachers to understand the rationale behind their new postings, leading to confusion and frustration within the teaching community.

Government’s Response and Justifications

In response to the concerns raised by BSSTA, the Bihar Education Department has justified the non-publication of the transfer list by stating that it aimed to maintain privacy and individual confidentiality. According to Dr. S. Siddharth, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department, the personalized approach to sharing transfer information ensures that teachers’ privacy is respected and avoids unnecessary disputes or unnecessary public scrutiny.

The department has also emphasized that the transfer process was completed in good faith, ensuring that every teacher was allocated to a district that needed their expertise. In light of the growing number of complaints from teachers, the department has promised to look into the matter and address any grievances as soon as possible.

Future of Bihar’s Education System: The Impact of Teacher Transfers

The teacher transfer process is a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to improve Bihar’s education system. By redistributing teachers across various districts, the state aims to address staff shortages, ensure better distribution of resources, and create a more equitable educational environment for students across the state.

However, the lack of clarity and transparency in this process, as pointed out by the teacher union, is a significant concern that needs to be addressed. Teacher morale can have a profound impact on the quality of education, and if teachers feel alienated or dissatisfied with their transfers, it could undermine the state’s educational reforms.

As Bihar continues to implement educational reforms and strive for improvement in its public education system, it is crucial that the government works collaboratively with teachers’ unions to ensure that all decisions regarding teacher postings are made with clarity, fairness, and transparency.

In conclusion, the recent transfer of 11,801 female teachers in Bihar has raised important issues regarding transparency in the transfer process, communication with teachers, and gender equality in the education sector. While the Bihar Education Department has taken steps to address staffing shortages by reallocating teachers based on district needs, the concerns raised by the Bihar State School Teachers Association (BSSTA) underscore the need for a clearer, more transparent system for such significant decisions.

As Bihar continues its efforts to enhance the education system, it is imperative that the government listens to the concerns of its educators and works towards creating a system that is fair, inclusive, and efficient. The next steps for the Bihar Education Department will involve carefully addressing the issues raised by teachers and ensuring that future teacher transfers are handled with greater transparency and communication.

Stay tuned to KKNLive.com for the latest updates on Bihar’s educational reforms, teacher transfers, and other significant developments within the state’s education system.